Media Game: Playing Up Phoenix Rally As Charlottesville 2.0?
President Trump spoke in Phoenix at a campaign-style rally Tuesday night. The Democrat Mayor begged Trump to stay away. And liberal media outlets capitalized on the recent riots in Charlottesville to stoke “fears of political upheaval” and the “chaos it might bring“. The political drama is so very real.
Media was on “high alert” wondering “whether there will be more supporters of Trump inside the Phoenix Convention Center, which holds 29,000, or protestors outside” according to The Hill.
Turns out that is a valid question given a questionable Craigslist list advertisement in the Phoenix area.
AZCentral.com reported a questionable ad soliciting Pro-Trump “actors” to attend the rally.
Two days before President Donald Trump arrives in Phoenix for his first “outside-the-swamp” rally in Arizona, a phantom Craigslist ad popped up.
“Actors needed,” it read.
The ad, posted early on Sunday, wanted to hire people to pose as Trump supporters for the rally, with “minorities especially desired to hold pro-Trump signs, cheer on command, and show diversity.”
Those interested were asked to reply with a head-shot photo and a resume. The rate? Ten dollars per hour to stand in Phoenix’s predicted 105-degree heat Tuesday.
After 30 minutes, the post was deleted. Four hours later, it popped up again. Five minutes later, it was gone again.
Pooh-poohing conservatives’ concerns surrounding paid protestors as the “usual paranoia”, left-leaning Slate.com acknowledges similarly questionable advertising for anti-Trump “actors” was out there, citing Charlie Kirk’s tweet below:
WOW! Listing in Arizona asking for PAID ACTORS to protest the President during his visit to Arizona on Tuesday
Paid protestors! Wow! pic.twitter.com/1ROy5KySi7
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) August 21, 2017
Are these fake advertisements? False flags? Are the crowds fake? Or are these questionable advertisements planted by design to undermine the public’s faith in Trump’s live events? Or was Fake News attempting to hijack Trump’s Phoenix rally by turning into Charlottesville 2.0 for political blame and gain?
